--- description: Chinese malware called HummingBad has infected at least 10 million Android devices, according to security researchers. title: This Chinese Malware Is Infecting Millions of Phones image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) ## Tech Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # This Chinese Malware Is Infecting Millions of Phones by [Rosalie Chan](/author/rosalie-chan/) ## Rosalie Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 13, 2023 6:48 AM CUTPublished: Jul 5, 2016 3:13 PM CUT by [Rosalie Chan](/author/rosalie-chan/) ## Rosalie Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 13, 2023 6:48 AM CUTPublished: Jul 5, 2016 3:13 PM CUT Chinese malware called HummingBad has infected at least 10 million [Android](http://time.com/4389934/google-android-nougat-release-name/?iid=sr-link1 "undefined") devices, according to security researchers. Cybersecurity software maker Check Point [released an analysis about the malware](http://blog.checkpoint.com/2016/07/01/from-hummingbad-to-worse-new-in-depth-details-and-analysis-of-the-hummingbad-andriod-malware-campaign/ "undefined"), which the firm has tracked since it was discovered in February. HummingBad gives cybercriminals administrative-level access to infected [Android](http://time.com/4373379/oneplus-3-review-specs-release/?iid=sr-link5 "undefined") devices. It downloads apps and clicks adds without users’ knowledge, generating fraudulent advertising revenue of up to $300,000 per month, [_CNET_ reports.](http://www.cnet.com/news/malware-from-china-infects-over-10-million-android-users-report-says/ "undefined") The majority of the malware’s victims are in China and India, each with over 1 million cases. The U.S. is home to roughly a quarter of a million infected [devices](http://time.com/4253175/google-android-n-name-developer-preview/?iid=sr-link6 "undefined"), according to the report. Check Point says a team of developers at Yingmob, a multimillion-dollar advertising analytics agency based in Beijing, is behind HummingBad. The group can also sell access to and give away information from infected phones, the security firm says. “We’ve long been aware of this evolving family of malware and we’re constantly improving our systems that detect it,” a Google spokesperson told _TIME._ “We actively block installations of infected apps to keep users and their information safe.” According to Check Point, [Apple](http://time.com/3984627/apple-ios9-android-iphone/?iid=sr-link2 "undefined") devices have also been hit by similar malware, including some attacks from Yingmob using an iOS malware called Yispecter. \[[_CNET_](http://www.cnet.com/news/malware-from-china-infects-over-10-million-android-users-report-says/ "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4393240/hummingbad-china-chinese-malware-android/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4393240/hummingbad-china-chinese-malware-android/"},"headline":"This Chinese Malware Is Infecting Millions of Phones","datePublished":"2016-07-05T15:13:40.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T06:48:57.000Z","description":"It could give hackers access to your device","url":"https://time.com/4393240/hummingbad-china-chinese-malware-android/","keywords":["Tech","Gadgets","Smartphones","Security","Companies"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rosalie Chan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/rosalie-chan/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-tech/","name":"Tech"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4393240/hummingbad-china-chinese-malware-android/","name":"This Chinese Malware Is Infecting Millions of Phones"}}]}] ```